SCHUMER DEMANDS TRUMP ADMIN IMMEDITELY REVERSE CRUEL DECISION TO ABRUPTLY CANCEL NATURALIZATION CEREMONIES ACROSS NEW YORK, AND RESCHEDULE CEREMONIES FOR THE HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES STUCK IN LIMBO SO NEW AMERICANS CAN BECOME CITIZENS
Without Warning, County Clerks Were Notified That Ceremonies For Hundreds of Families That Have Gone Through The Lengthy Citizenship Process Have Been Canceled In Westchester, Rockland, Schenectady, Washington, Broome, Tompkins, And Onondaga
Schumer: These New Yorkers Were Days Away From Becoming Citizens, Ripping That Away Is Just Plain Cruel
Amid reports that the Trump administration has indefinitely canceled naturalization ceremonies across New York, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer today demanded U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow immediately reschedule these ceremonies. Schumer said naturalization ceremonies are the final step in new Americans’ journey to citizenship, and canceling these ceremonies only is creating confusion & chaos for counties and these families who have spent years working to become citizens.
“Across New York, families were preparing for one of the happiest days of their lives, only to have the rug pulled out from under them by the Trump administration. These New Yorkers played by the rules and went through years of navigating the immigration system to become a citizen. They represent the American dream and deserve to take the Oath of Allegiance and officially become a citizen,” said Senator Schumer. “It is cruel, it’s wrong and has led to heartache and mass confusion in counties throughout New York. They are adding more hurdles and reducing the venues for people to become citizens, and these unexplained cancellations fly in the face of USCIS’s obligations under the law. Stop playing politics with these people’s lives. The Trump administration must immediately reverse course and reschedule these ceremonies and so that these families can complete their long journey to become new Americans.”
Across New York, local officials are receiving notifications that planned naturalization ceremonies will not take place. USCIS has said that courts in certain New York counties are ineligible to conduct naturalization ceremonies but gave no indication for when these ceremonies will be reinstated. So far, seven counties across New York – Westchester, Rockland, Schenectady, Washington, Broome, Tompkins, and Onondaga – have received notification that ceremonies will be canceled indefinitely, leaving hundreds of New Yorkers and their families in limbo.
Schumer in a letter to USCIS Director Joseph Edlow explained these naturalization ceremonies are the critical final step towards citizenship for new Americans, and the abrupt cancellations effectively deny New Yorkers access to citizenship. The senator demanded the Trump administration reschedule these ceremonies and requested a plan for USCIS’ plan to expand access to citizenship services.
Schumer’s letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow can be found HERE or below:
Dear Director Edlow,
My office has received extremely concerning reports that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has indefinitely cancelled naturalization ceremonies across multiple counties in New York without providing a clear reason, legal justification, or plan for rescheduling them. As a result, New Yorkers who have completed every legal requirement find themselves unable to take the Oath of Allegiance. These cancellations are effectively denying access to citizenship and represent a serious departure from the policies and legal responsibilities of USCIS. I urge you to immediately reverse course on this decision.
Taking the Oath of Allegiance is not only a symbolic step that many and their families look forward to, but it is a legal requirement without which a person cannot become a U.S. citizen. It is therefore of upmost importance that these naturalization ceremonies take place and are not unnecessarily delayed.
As you are aware, federal law under Section 337 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as implemented by 8 C.F.R. §337, requires that, “naturalization ceremonies…be conducted…as frequently as necessary to ensure timely naturalization, but in all events at least once monthly where it is required to minimize unreasonable delays.” Indefinite postponements or unexplained cancellations are directly inconsistent with your obligations under federal law.
I find no reasonable explanation why USCIS would notify county clerks of these cancellations without communicating a clear timeline of when these ceremonies will be rescheduled or whether they will take place in alternative locations. In fact, these USCIS actions appear to be part of a broader pattern of restricting who participates in naturalization ceremonies, reducing the number of venues, and increasing the number of hurdles New Yorkers face to become U.S. citizens.
New Yorkers deserve clear communication and timely access to their lawful right to citizenship. I hope to hear soon from you about your plan to restart these naturalization ceremonies and how you plan to increase access to USCIS services to New Yorkers across the state. I appreciate your prompt attention and look forward to your response.
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